Bible/Genesis/8

Genesis 8:7

8:6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. to: Heb. in going forth and returning

KJV

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and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth, until the waters were dried up from the earth.

And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

8:8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;

What does Genesis 8:7 mean?

Genesis 8:7 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁלַח (shâlach), עֹרֵב (ʻôrêb), יָצָא (yâtsâʼ). It connects to 4 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
he
sent
forthשָׁלַחshâlach/shaw-lakh'/H7971to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
a
raven,עֹרֵבʻôrêb/o-rabe'/H6158a raven (from its dusky hue)
which
went
forthיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
toיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
and
fro,שׁוּבshûwb/shoob/H7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
until
the
watersמַיִםmayim/mah'-yim/H4325water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
were
dried
upיָבֵשׁyâbêsh/yaw-bashe'/H3001to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)
from
off
the
earth.אֶרֶץʼerets/eh'-rets/H776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
to:
Heb.
in
going
forth
and
returning

Commentary on Genesis 8:7

HENRY_FULL · Genesis 8:6–7
Ararat. 5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. Here we have the effects and evidences of the ebbing of the waters. 1. The ark rested. This was some satisfaction to Noah, to feel the house he was in upon firm ground, and no longer movable. It rested upon a mountain, whither it was directed, not by Noah's prudence (he did not steer it), but by the wise and gracious providence of God, that it might rest the sooner. Note, God has times and places of rest for his people after their tossings; and many a time he provides for their seasonable and comfortable settlement without their own contrivance and quite beyond their own foresight. The ark of the church, though sometimes tossed with tempests, and not comforted ( Isa. liv. 11 ), yet has its rests, Acts ix. 31 . 2. The tops of the mountains were seen, like little islands, appearing above the water. We must suppose that they were seen by Noah and his sons; for there were none besides to see them. It is probable that they had looked through the window of the ark every day, like the longing mariners, after a tedious voyage, to see if they could discover land, or as the prophet's servant ( 1 Kings xviii. 43, 44 ), and at length they spy ground, and enter the day of the discovery in their journal. They felt ground above forty days before they saw it, according to Dr. Lightfoot's computation, whence he infers that, if the waters decreased proportionably, the ark drew eleven cubits in water. 6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had ma

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Leviticus 11:15

Every raven after his kind;

1 Kings 17:4

And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

1 Kings 17:6

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

Job 38:41

Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Topics

RavenRaven, the

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 8:7.

Genesis 8:3

And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. continually: Heb. in going and returning

2 Chronicles 18:26

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

Exodus 12:41

And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 16:1

And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

Exodus 16:3

And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Genesis 7:19

And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

Genesis 8:11

And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

Joshua 1:15

Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.

Frequently asked questions

What does Genesis 8:7 say?

Genesis 8:7 (King James Version) reads: "And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. to: Heb. in going forth and returning"

Is Genesis 8:7 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 8:7 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Who wrote the book of Genesis?

The book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses.

Reflect

As you read Genesis 8:7, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Genesis 8:7
8:6Read all of Genesis 88:8